Safety locking device for automobiles



Oct. 27 1925- w. SHARA SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 5, 1922 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 w. sHARA' SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES 1 ileiugil 5,3922 2 Sheets-5heet 2 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM SHARA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 5, 1922. Serial No. 549,893.

T0 at whom it may concern Be itknown that I, TVILLLAM Sin-mix, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Locking Dovices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety locking mechanism for automobiles, an object thereof being to provide an improved means of this character for locking the engine controls of the machine such as the switches for the self-starter, battery, or magneto, and also for actuating an 'alarm or sigmil device upon unauthorized attempts to unlock the controls and start the machine.

A further object of this invention isto provide a combination tumbler locking met-hm nism operative upon predetermined manipulation to lock and unlock the engine controls and switches, and also to actuate an alarm device upon erroneous manipulation of the combination tumblers by one unfamiliar with the correct combination.

A further object of this invention is to provide an alarm device for automol'iiles operated automatically by a combination lock upon erroneous manipulation thereof, such alarm device being disconnected by independent means and only when the control switches are operable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved alarm device for automobiles operated automatically by a combination lock upon erroneous manipulation thereof, the construction being such however that the alarm device may be disconnected only by correct manipulation of the mechanisn'i and the subsequent operation thereof to unlock the engine controls or switches.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views and wherein Fig. l is an elevation view illus trating the installment of my improvement on the dash-board of a vehicle, the casing being removed so as to clearly illustrate the various parts; Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on lines of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: is a plan view partly in section illustrating the mechanism;

is a vertical section taken on lines 5 f Fi 4; Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating particularly the position of the tooth sector when shifted to ac uate the alarm; Fig. (3 is a perspective detail view of certain of the parts of the locking mechanism; Figs. 7 and S are perspective views of certain bf the tumblers of the combination lock; Fig. 9 is a bottom detail plan view of the contact mechanism for the alarm device; and Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view illustrating the various parts or the contact mechanism for making and breaking the alarm circuit.

The pre:.-ent invention comprises in general a combination lock having the usual tumblers and movable bolt cooperating therewith, an electrical switch adapted upon movement of the bolt to be locked and unlocked thereby, an electrically controlled alarm or warning device, and a contact member adapted to be moved into position to complete a circuit througl'i the alarm device by the movement of one of the tun'iblers of the combination lock. The construction of the device is such however that after the alarm has once been actuated it cannot be disconnected except by obtaining the correct combination, unlocking the bolt and therebv causing the alarm circuit to be broken.

The present improved locking mechanism preferably mounted upon the inside of the dash-board of the vehicle and of course it understood that the same is suitably housed in a casing (not shown) so construced as to prevent unauthorized ingress thereinto. The major portion of the locking mechanism in the present instance is mounted in a supporting housing 5), bolted 9 to the rear of the dashboard. \Vithin this supporting housing 9 is located a combination lock of any preferred type comprising a knob '10 and a dial 10, and a plurality of revolving tumblers 11 mounted upon a spindle 12 which is suitably journalled in the housing 9. The several tumblers 11 are provided with the usual face studs and notches 1.3 which upon obtaining the correct combination are adapted to be alined with each other and receive the swinging bolt lat, pivoted at 1:3 to the opposite sides of the housing 2). The belt is provided with an upwardly extending projecting finger or dog 16 held in position between a stud 17 and a shoulder 18 of a shiftable locking latch 19. The forward portion of the latch 19 projects through an opening in a guide member 20 secured to the inner Wall of the housing 9, this member forming a guide for the forward portion of the latch. The rear end of the latch '19 is slotted as at 21 to receive the spindle 12 of the combination lock. Thus it will be readily seen that upon alining the several notches of the tumblers so as to permit the bolt letto fall thereinto, and upon turning the knob so as to swing the bolt downward l v or upwardly the latch 19 will be shifted in a horizontal path.

The forward ent 22 of the latch is adapted to cooperate with the bent or right angle portion 23 of a lever 27 hereinafter described, which is pivoted at 23 to the rear end of a link 24 for the control switches. In the present instance three switches are provided by way of example, the link 2i being pivoted directly to a switch 25 for the self-starter, and a switch 26 for the battery, and by means of the lever 27 connection is made to the switch 28 for the magneto. It will be understood of course that suitable wiring is provided so as to form the necessary circuits as is well known in the art, as generally indicated in Fig. 1. The link 24: is shifted for the purpose of controlling switches 25 and 26, and in like manner the lever 27 to control the switch 28 by means of a suitable handle 29 secured to a spindle 3O journalled in the housing 9 and having the squared shank portion 31 thereof fitting into a square hole in the lever 27. Thus upon turning the handle 29 in the proper direction the several switches will be into such positions as to complete the circuits to the magneto, starter and battery or to break the circuits when desired. '}b\"iously when the forward end 22 of the latch 19 is in the locking position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the several control switches will be firmly locked in position and in such position it will be impossible to turn the handle 29 and thus render it impossible to start the machine. However, upon unlocking the bolt 1% and shifting the latch 19 out of engagement with the portion 23, the switches may be readily operated by means of the handle 29.

In order to prevent any unauthorized operation of the engine, and to provide a warning when an attempt is made to start the engine by one unfamiliar with the combination, an alarm device 32 is provided, in the present instance in the form of a bell, the same being of any conventional construc tion. This alarm is controlled by the predetermined movement of the tumblers of the combination lock and after the alarm has been actuated it can be silenced only by unlocking and shifting the bolt Projecting through the bottom of the housing 9 and suitably insulated therefrom is a binding post 33, the upper end thereof having a pair of arcuate memiiers 34L reversely curved so as to form therebetween oppositely disposed tacts contact recesses. Above the contacts 34 is positioned swinging contact member 35 in the form of atoothed sector, the same bein pivoted at 36 between the bifurcated ends 3 of a threaded rod 38. The rod 38 is screwed into the side of the housing or casing 9 and is grounded on the casing. The inner tumler or disc 11 of the combination lock which is fixed to the spindle 12 is provided with a projecting pin 39 so positioned that upon rotation of the tumbler 11 the pin 39 will engage a tooth of the sector 35 and shift it one notch or step. It will be seen therefore that upon shifting the tumbler 11 a suiiicient number of turns all of the teeth of the sector 35 will be shifted ste by step beyond the path of the pin 39, and at this time one of the outer teeth 10 or 43 will be moved into a contact recess of the contacts 3% thereby con'ipleting a circuit through the alarm. Rotation of the tumbler or disc 11* in either direction will in this manner cause either tooth to or a3 of the sector 35 to be moved into one of the opposed recesses of the con- But, as soon as the pin 39 in its rotation has shifted all of the teeth of the sector 35 beyond its path and caused the alarm to be actuated, a reverse rotation of the tumbler ll will not disconnect the alarm for the reason that the pin 39, upon reversing, will not engage a tooth of the sector 35. This will be seen from a consideration of F 5 and Fig. 5 wherein the pin 39 moving in the direction of the arrow has shifted the tooth 40 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Upon reversing the direction of rotation of the tumbler the pin will not engage tooth all) but will pass freely thereover. Hence when the tooth sector 3! has been shifted to the position in Fig. 5' thereby causing tooth 43 to engage contact and actuate the alarm, movement of the tumbler in either direction will cause the pin 39 to pass freely over the tooth sector and fail to disconnect the alarm.

A suitable operator for the circuit breaker of the alarm device is provided in the form of a swinging lever 44- pivotally supported by means of a threaded stud 45 secured in the bottom of the casing 9. The lever 44 is insulated from the stud 45. This lever 4% is triangular in shape and the tapered end thereof projects between the sector 35 and the contact 34. The rear end of the lever ll: is cut away to provide stops 46 and i7 and a recess for receiving a depend ing linger -18 secured to the latch 19. Thus when the tooth sector 35 is swung in either direction to cause either tooth 40 or 43 to engage the contact 34:, the forward end of the lever 44 will be swung laterally. As shown in Fig. 5, the bottom straight edge of s ctor 35 in normal position is in close proximity to the upper horizontal face of member at and projects at each side suf- Inc Cit

ficiently beyond the tapering edges of the member 44 so that when the sector is swung this bottom edge will engage the edge of member 44 and swing the member laterally. WVhen sector is swung to the position in Fig. 5 the outer tapered edge of tooth 43 also engages the edge of member 44 so that the latter will be swung into position to cause the projection 46 to engage the finger 48. Whereupon it will be seen that upon unlocking the bolt 14 and shifting the latch 19 to the left, the forward or tapered end of the lever 44 will be shifted to the right into its normal position shown in Fig. 5 thereby swinging sector 35 to its normal position and breaking the alarm circuit." On the other hand in case the sector has been shifted so as to cause the tooth to complete the alarm circuit through the contact 34, the projection 47 will be moved to the left (see Fig. 6) into juxtaposition with the finger 48, and the projection 47, although engaging the lower end of a freely swinging latch 49, will pass thereover and lodge in the space between the latch 49 and the finger 48. Hence upon unlocking the bolt 14 and shifting the latch 19 to the left the lower end of the latch 49 due to the spring 51 will be carried back over the pro jection 47 and lodged between the same and the finger 48. The alarm circuit can then be broken by shifting the tapered forward end of lever 44 to the left, this being accomplished merely by manipulating the knob 10 and bolt 14 so as to shift the latch 19 to the right since the lower end of the latch 49 will engage the projection 47.

It will be understood that sector 35 may be provided with any suitable number of.

teeth according to the number of turns in the combination. In the present instance where the combination requires not over four turns in either direction, the sector is provided with five teeth so that upon rotating the tumbler 11 more than the required number of four turns, namely, five turns, the alarm will be actuated. In such case only the unlocking of the bolt 14 and shifting of latch 19 in the manner described will operate the circuit breaker 44 to dis connect the alarm.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mechanism of the class described comprising a control switch, a combination lock comprising revolving tumblers, means automatically operated by said combination lock for controlling said switch, an alarm and means operated by said combina tion lock for operating said alarm only when predetermined greater number of revolutions of the tumblers is made in one direction than in the other.

2. In a mechanism of the class described having a signal device, the combination of a combination lock including a plurality of rotatable tumblers, a swinging contact member, and means operated by a tumbler for swinging said contact member to close a circuit to said signal device only when a predetermined greater number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in one direction than in the other.

In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of an engine control switch, a combination lock comprising revolving tumblers, means automatically operated by said combination lock for controlling said switch, a contact member for closing an alarm circuit, and means for progressively shifting said contact member in a prede termined direction to close the alarm circuit only when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction.

4. In a mechanism of the class described having a signal device, the combination of a. combination lock including a rotatable tumbler, a pair of contact members for closing a circuit to said signal device, and means operated by said tumbler during the rotation thereof for shifting one of said contact members into contact with the other only when a predetermined greater number of revolutions of the tumbler are made in one direction than in the other.

In a mechanism of the class described having a signal device, the combination of an engine control switch, combination tumbler means, means operated thereby only when an excessive number of revolutions thereof are made in one direction for closing a-circuit to the signal device, and mechanism actuated by said tumbler means for breaking the circuit and including means for locking and unlocking said switch.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a plurality of rotatable tumblers, a swinging bolt controlled by said tumblers. an engine control switch, a shift able latch for locking said switch and connected to said belt for operation thereby, a shift-able contact member for closing a signal circuit, means carried by one of said tumblers for operating the same, and means operated by said latch for shifting said contact member to break the signal circuit.

'7. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of a plurality of rotatable tumblers, a swinging bolt controlled by said tumblers, an engine control switch, a shift able latch for locking said switch and connected to said bolt for operation thereby, a toothed sector forming a contact member for closing a signal circuit, and means carried by a tumbler for shifting said sector to close the circuit only upon making an excessive number of revolutions of the tumbler in one direction.

8. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of tumblers, a movable bolt controlled by said tumblers, an electric switch adapted to be locked and unlocked by said bolt, a pair of contact members for closing a signal circuit, one thereof shiftable toward and from the other and means carried by one of said tumblers for moving said shiftable contact member into engagement with the other contact member to close thesignal circuit only when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction.

9. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of tumblers, a movable bolt controlled by said tumblers, an electrical switch adapted to be locked and unlocked by said bolt, a pair of contact members for closing a signal circuit, means operated by one of said tumblers for moving one of said contact members progressively into contact with the other member when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction, and means operated by said bolt for breaking the circuit.

10. In a mechanism of the class described having an alarm device, the combination oi a plurality of tumblers, movable bolt con trolled thereby, an electrical switch, a shiftable locking member adapted to be connected to said bolt and etlective to lock and unlock said switch, a contact member for closin an alarm circuit, means operated by one or said tumblers for moving said contact member to close the circuit when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction, and means for breaking the circuit only by shifting said locking member in a predctermined manner.

11. In a mechanism of the class described having a signal device, he combination of a plurality of rotatable tumblers, a shittable contact member, means operated by a tumbler for shifting said contact member upon each rotative movement of the tumbler to cause said member to close a circuit to the signal device upon excessive rotation of the tumbler in a given direction, and means for shifting said contact member to break the circuit upon rotating said tumblers into proper combination.

Mechanism of the class described comprising an electrical control switch for an internal combustion engine, a combination lock including a plurality of tumblers and a bolt adapted to cooperate therewith, means operated by said combination lock for look ing and unlocking said switch, a shittable contact member, means operated by a tumbler for shifting said Contact member to close a signal circuit, and means operated by said bolt for shiftin said contact member to break the circuit.

13. Mechanism of the class described comprising an electrical control switch for internal combustion engines, a combination lock including a bolt and tumblers, a shiftable latch adapted to be'operated by said bolt for locking and unlocking the switch, a contact member, means carried by a tumbler for shifting the contact member in one direction to close a signal circuit when a predetermined gcater number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in one direction than the other, and a member operated by said bolt for breaking the circuit.

1 Mechanism of the class described comnising an electrical control switch for internal combustion engines, a combination lock including a bolt and tumblers, a shiftable latch adapted to be operated by said bolt for locking and unlocking the switch, a, contact, a toothed member, means operated by a tumbler when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction for shifting said toothed member into engagement with said contact to close an alarm circuit, and a member actuated by said latch for breaking the circuit.

l5. iviechanism ot' the class described comprising an electrical control switch for in tern-a1 combustion engines, a combination lock including a bolt and tumblers, a shiftabie latch adapted to be operated b said bolt for locking and unlocking the switch, a contact, a movable contact member adapted to be shifted by one of said. tumblers into contact with said contact to close an alarm circuit when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in one direction, and a member actuated by said latch 'for breaking the circuit, said contact member having teeth and said tumbler having a projection engageable with said teeth during the rotation of the tumbler only when the alarm circuit is open.

16. In an automobile locking mechanism, the combination of a contact, a combination lock comprising rotatable tumblers, one of said tumblers having a projection, and a shiftable member having teeth adapted to be successively engaged by said projection upon each predetermined revolution of said tumbler, the teeth of said member being shifted out of engagement with said projection when an excessive number of revolutions of the tumblers are made in a given direction to cause said member to engage said contact.

Signed at 1822-3l Park Row Bldg, N. Y. City, this 1st day of April .1922.

VILLIAM SHARA. 

